Report  of  Committee  on  Ecumenical 

Conference,  1900. 


By  Rev.  Judson  Smith,  D.D.,  Chairman . 


J. 


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REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE  ON  ECUMENICAL  CONFER¬ 
ENCE,  1900. 

BY  KEY.  JUDSON  SMITH,  D.D.,  CHAIRMAN. 

At  the  Fifth  Conference  of  Foreign  Missionary  Boards  of  the  United 
States  and  Canada,  held  in  New  York,  January  12-14,  1897,  it  was 
unanimously  voted  ‘‘to  go  forward  and  make  definite  preparations  for 
the  convening  of  an  Ecumenical  Conference  on  Foreign  Missions  in  the 
City  of  New  York,  at  such  time  during  the  year  1900  as  may  seem 
most  advisable  after  further  consultation  and  correspondence,  and  the 
committee  having  this  matter  in  charge  is  authorized  to  fill  vacancies 
in  its  own  number,  to  add  to  its  number  as  may  seem  desirable,  and  to 
do  whatever  else  may  be  necessary  to  carry  this  plan  into  execution.” 
In  these  terms  a  far-reaching  decision  was  made,  and  the  several  Boards 
and  Societies  represented  in  the  Conference  were  formally  pledged  to 
take  a  most  important  step  in  the  furtherance  of  the  great  cause  of 
Foreign  Missions  at  this  time. 

Following  the  very  important  Conference  of  1878  at  Mildmay  Hall, 
London,  and  that  still  more  representative  gathering  of  1888,  in  Exeter 
Hall,  London,  the  proposed  Conference  is  intended  to  sum  up  the  prog¬ 
ress  of  foreign  missionary  work  during  this  century,  and  to  set  in  clear 
order  the  present  state  of  this  work  in  the  varied  fields  of  missionary 
work  occupied  by  the  churches  of  Protestant  Christendom.  Every 
evangelical  Protestant  Foreign  Missionary  organization  in  the  world, 
so  far  as  known,  is  invited  to  be  represented  in  the  Conference  and  to 
share  in  its  deliberations.  The  substantial  unity  of  Protestant  Christen¬ 
dom  will  thus  be  expressed  and  confirmed  in  a  most  striking  way. 

The  Conference  is  to  be  devoted  primarily  to  a  review  of  the  work 
of  Protestant  missions  throughout  the  world  for  the  century  just  clos¬ 
ing,  with  a  summing  up  of  results,  a  study  of  methods  and  principles 
approved  by  long  experience  on  many  fields  and  a  comprehensive  out¬ 
look  upon  the  future.  What,  within  this  century,  have  Christian  mis¬ 
sions  in  the  foreign  field  attempted  ?  Where  have  they  been  planted  ? 
How  have  they  been  prosecuted?  What  have  they  accomplished? 
How  can  they  be  made  more  effective  ?  What  remains  yet  to  be  done  ? 
Home  Missions,  important  as  all  must  regard  them,  do  not  come  into 
consideration  in  this  gathering.  The  subject  of  Foreign  Missions  is 
large  enough,  varied  enough,  includes  questions  specifically  appropriate 
to  it,  sufficient  in  number  and  importance  to  demand  the  exclusive  at¬ 
tention  of  the  body  of  men  and  women  who  are  to  gather  in  1900;  and 
the  effectiveness  of  the  occasion  is  dependent  on  confining  time  and 
discussion  to  this  one  vast  field  of  Christian  service.  It  is  not  a  meet¬ 
ing  designed  especially  for  laborers  from  the  foreign  field,  where  each 

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is  to  recite  his  story,  or  tell  his  experience,  or  point  his  lesson.  Mis¬ 
sionaries  are  to  be  invited ;  they  will  he  asked  to  discuss  themes  appro¬ 
priate  to  the  great  objects  of  the  Conference;  their  weighty  testimony 
will  be  given  on  many  points ;  but  they  will  form  only  a  part  of  the 
body.  Neither  is  it  a  mass  meeting  on  foreign  missionary  themes, 
where  each  man  gives  direction  to  what  is  said  and  done,  according  to 
his  personal  wish  or  power  of  utterance,  and  where  a  free  platform  is 
offered  to  any  one  who  desires  to  be  heard.  The  foreign  missionary 
societies  of  Protestant  Christendom,  by  their  appointed  delegates,  are 
the  constituent  elements  of  the  Conference;  and  the  comprehensive 
study  of  the  great  agencies  by  which  the  unevangelized  world  is  to  be 
made  the  Kingdom  of  God  is  its  one  great  theme. 

It  would  seem  like  a  grave  omission  were  this  century,  so  marked 
by  the  development  of  the  foreign  missionary  enterprise,  to  close 
without  an  occasion  of  this  sort,  in  which  those  most  actively  engaged 
in  this  work  may  come  together  to  survey  the  whole  field,  communicate 
their  varied  experience,  and  sum  up  results  and  set  themselves  in  close 
array  and  deeper  harmony  of  spirit  and  aim  for  the  great  work 
remaining  ere  the  world  be  won  to  our  Lord.  Probably  in  no  equal 
period  of  time  has  such  marked  advance  been  made  in  the  evangeliza¬ 
tion  of  the  world  as  we  have  witnessed  since  the  close  of  the  great 
Conference  in  London  of  1888,  whether  we  consider  the  number  of 
communicants  added  to  mission  churches,  or  the  circulation  of  the 
Scriptures  in  the  vernacular,  or  the  development  of  Christian  schools, 
or  the  growth  of  self  support  in  native  communities,  or  the  quality  and 
extent  of  the  influence  exerted  by  the  gospel  in  mission  lands.  The 
rate  of  progress  denoted  by  statistics  is  most  striking ;  the  indications 
of  this  progress  in  facts  of  many  kinds  not  capable  of  expression  in 
statistical  tables,  are  even  more  marked  and  inspiring.  For  the  sake 
of  the  truth,  for  the  encouragement  of  all  Christian  people,  and  in 
order  to  a  right  impression  on  the  world  at  large,  the  evidence  of  this 
happy  growth  and  animating  outlook,  this  assurance  of  the  unfailing 
strength  and  certain  victory  of  the  gospel  should  be  carefully  gathered, 
set  in  clear  order,  and  put  on  permanent  record.  Nothing  in  Christian 
Apologetics  could  well  have  greater  power. 

The  committee  to  which  such  important  duties  were  assigned,  has 
striven  to  the  best  of  its  ability  to  discharge  the  duties  resting  upon 
it.  Two  meetings,  fully  attended,  have  been  held  in  the  course  of  the 
year,  and  a  wide  correspondence  carried  on.  The  first  meeting  of  the 
committee  was  held  at  Clifton  Springs,  N.  Y.,  on  Friday,  July  9th, 
and  at  this  meeting  Rev.  A.  B.  Leonard,  D.D.,  and  Rev.  H.  N.  Cobb, 
D.D.,  were  added  to  the  committee.  It  was  voted  that  the  Conference 
should  be  devoted  exclusively  to  the  work  of  Foreign  Missions.  It  was 
decided  to  call  the  Conference  for  the  last  ten  days  of  April,  1900,  in 
the  City  of  New  York.  The  hospitality  to  be  offered,  and  the  means 
of  providing  for  the  necessary  expenses  of  the  Conference  were  con- 

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sidered,  but  no  final  action  was  taken.  It  was  agreed  that  a  day  should 
be  given  on  the  programme  of  the  Conference  to  the  consideration  of 
woman’s  work,  and  that  the  London  Committee  on  Woman’s  Work 
should  be  invited  to  aid  in  the  preparation  of  the  details  of  the  pro¬ 
gramme  for  that  day.  It  was  also  agreed  that  ample  time  should  be 
given  to  the  consideration  of  the  young  people’s  part  in  the  foreign 
missionary  work,  especially  of  the  Student  Volunteer  Movement  and 
the  several  societies  of  young  people  in  our  churches. 

A  second  meeting  of  the  committee,  more  fully  attended,  was  held 
in  New  York  City,  November  5th,  and  Rev.  H.  N.  Cobb,  D.D.,  was 
chosen  secretary,  pro  tem.  At  this  meeting  the  membership  of  the 
committee  was  still  further  enlarged,  to  make  it  more  widely  repre¬ 
sentative,  by  the  appointment  of  the  following  gentlemen:  Rev.  Alex¬ 
ander  Sutherland,  D.D.,  Hamilton Cassels,  Esq.,  Rev.  W.  W.  Barr,  D.D., 
Rev.  W.  R.  Lambuth,  D.D.,  and  Rev.  R.  M.  Sommerville,  D.D.  It  was 
also  voted  to  appoint  six  laymen,  to  be  selected  by  the  representatives 
of  the  societies  at  that  time  in  the  committee. 

In  view  of  the  great  need  of  some  person  more  at  leisure  than  any 
member  of  the  committee  to  conduct  the  correspondence  of  the  com¬ 
mittee,  which  is  sure  to  grow  from  this  time  onward,  it  was  voted  to 
secure  such  a  secretary,  with  pledge  of  necessary  expenses.  It  was 
voted  that  the  chairman  and  secretary,  in  the  name  of  the  committee, 
send  a  letter  to  the  Protestant  Foreign  Missionary  Societies  in  Great 
Britain,  on  the  Continent  of  Europe  and  in  Australia,  as  well  as  to 
those  in  the  United  States  and  Canada,  announcing  the  decision  to 
convene  an  Ecumenical  Conference  on  Foreign  Missions  in  the  City  of 
New  York  on  the  20th  day  of  April,  1900,  asking  these  Societies  to 
appoint  two  or  more  delegates  to  represent  them  in  this  Conference, 
and  inviting  them  to  aid  in  the  preparation  of  a  programme  and  to 
make  suggestions  on  other  points  in  regard  to  the  Conference. 

It  was  also  voted  that  in  order  to  popularize  the  Conference  and  at¬ 
tract  attention  to  it,  there  should  be  published  in  the  press  notice  of 
the  time  and  place  for  holding  the  Conference  and  of  the  objects  of  the 
gathering.  Very  soon  after  the  adjournment  of  this  meeting,  the 
chairman  and  secretary  prepared  a  letter  of  invitation  subscribing  it  in 
behalf  of  the  American  committee,  and  have  sent  a  copy  of  it  to  the 
Protestant  missionary  organizations  of  America  and  Europe  and 
Australia.  A  copy  of  this  invitation  is  appended  herewith.  To  this 
invitation  responses  have  already  begun  to  arrive  in  large  numbers 
from  America  and  from  Great  Britain,  all  of  them  welcoming  the  an¬ 
nouncement  of  the  Conference  and  expressing  the  purpose  of  being  duly 
represented  and  of  readiness  to  aid  in  any  way  possible  to  make  the  oc¬ 
casion  one  of  the  greatest  interest  and  value. 

As  yet  your  committee  have  done  nothing  definite  in  regard  to  a 
programme  for  the  meeting.  This  is  one  of  the  most  important  mat¬ 
ters  which  must  now  engross  their  attention,  since  upon  the  judicious 

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arrangement  of  the  programme  and  the  wise  selection  of  those  who  are 
to  bear  part  in  it  will  depend  in  no  small  degree  the  value  and  success 
of  the  occasion.  Three  grand  groups  of  subjects  must  naturally  occupy 
the  larger  part  of  the  sessions  of  the  Conference.  The  first  would 
include  the  discussion  of  all  questions  bearing  upon  the  principles  and 
methods  of  foreign  missionary  operations,  such  as  the  development  of 
native  churches,  training  of  native  converts  for  Christian  work,  mis¬ 
sion  schools,  medical  work,  the  training  of  missionaries  at  home,  mis¬ 
sionary  comity,  and  the  attitude  of  missionaries  toward  particular 
problems  on  the  foreign  field.  The  second  group  of  subjects  would 
deal  with  the  present  state  of  missionary  work  under  the  different 
Boards  in  all  the  varied  fields  of  the  world,  with  a  review  of  progress 
made,  embarrassments,  experiences  and  special  opportunities  now  pre¬ 
sented.  The  third  group  would  touch  the  wider  aspects  of  the  missionary 
enterprise  and  would  afford  opportunity  for  meetings  of  a  more  general 
character,  designed  mainly  to  increase  intelligence  in  regard  to  mis¬ 
sionary  affairs  and  to  awaken  a  popular  interest  in  them.  Of  course 
these  points  must  be  worked  out  in  detail  with  great  care,  and  the  work 
will  require  much  attention.  Suggestions  in  regard  to  points  that  need 
to  be  particularly  considered  are  solicited  from  the  members  of  this 
Conference  as  they  have  been  from  all  the  Boards  invited  to  the  Con¬ 
ference.  Your  committee  is  sensible  of  the  very  grave  responsibility 
which  devolves  upon  it  in  making  arrangements  for  this  great  gather¬ 
ing  setting  in  operation  the  forces  which  must  co-operate  if  it  is  to 
be  made  successful  in  the  high  degree  which  we  all  desire ;  and  it 
will  welcome  any  and  every  suggestion  which  may  be  offered  with 
reference  to  any  part  of  the  arrangements  necessary  for  the  right  con¬ 
duct  and  happy  outcome  of  the  Conference.  They  express  the  earnest 
hope  that  throughout  these  coming  months  Christian  people,  pastors 
and  members  of  the  churches  sustaining  this  missionary  work,  officers 
of  Missionary  Boards,  and  the  laborers  on  all  mission  fields,  will  bear 
this  Conference  on  their  hearts  in  prayer  to  God,  that  the  preparations 
for  it  may  be  wisely  made,  that  its  proceedings  may  be  guided  by 
Heavenly  wisdom,  that  its  sessions  may  be  enriched  by  the  pres¬ 
ence  and  benediction  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  and  that  its  results  may  be 
made  powerful  in  wakening  a  deeper  missionary  spirit  and  purpose  in 
all  Christian  hearts  throughout  the  world. 

Recalling  the  widely  representative  character  of  the  Conference  in 
London  in  1888,  the  importance  of  the  discussions,  the  variety  of  the 
facts  presented,  the  deep  impression  made  by  the  survey  in  succession 
of  the  wide  fields  within  which  missionary  operations  have  been 
carried  on,  and  the  total  outcome  in  the  two  noble  volumes  embracing 
a  report  of  the  Conference,  your  committee  looks  forward  with  great 
hope  and  expectation  to  the  gathering  which  we  are  now  planning. 
Rightly  organized,  well  directed  and  brought  to  a  happy  conclusion, 
it  cannot  fail  to  produce  a  profound  impression  upon  Protestant 

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Christendom  as  a  whole,  greatly  to  increase  knowledge  of  missionary 
affairs  and  to  deepen  interest  in  the  spread  of  Christ’s  Kingdom,  and 
to  constitute  itself  one  of  the  most  powerful  demonstrations  of  the 
truth  and  universality  of  the  Christian  faith  which  the  world  has 
ever  seen. 

In  behalf ,  of  the  Committee,  Judson  Smith,  Chairman . 

American  Board  of  Commissioners  for  Foreign  Missions. 

1  Somerset  St.,  Boston,  Mass.,  December  1,  1897. 

Dear  Brethren: 

Last  year  a  committee  representing  the  Foreign  Missionary  Societies 
of  America  addressed  a  letter  to  the  Secretaries  of  the  Protestant 
Foreign  Missionary  Societies  of  Great  Britain  and  the  Continent  of 
Europe,  soliciting  an  expression  of  their  views  as  to  the  desirability  of 
convening  an  Ecumenical  Foreign  Missionary  Conference  (similar  in 
aim  and  character  to  the  World’s  Missionary  Conference  of  London, 
1888),  in  the  City  of  New  York,  in  the  month  of  April,  1900,  and  as  to 
their  readiness  to  co-operate  in  such  a  Conference.  The  Societies 
addressed  very  generally  responded,  and  heartily  welcomed  the  Con¬ 
ference  proposed,  and  favored  the  place  suggested,  and,  with  only  two 
or  three  exceptions,  the  time  named. 

In  view  of  this  cordial  feeling  and  unanimity,  the  American 
Societies  authorized  the  convening  of  such  a  Conference,  and  instructed 
their  committee  to  make  all  necessary  arrangements  therefor. 

In  accordance  with  these  instructions  and  in  the  name  of  the 
American  Societies  which  have  appointed  us,  we  cordially  invite  your 
Society  to  be  represented  by  two  or  more  delegates  in  an  Ecumenical 
Conference  on  Foreign  Missions,  to  be  convened  in  the  City  of  New 
York,  U.  S.  A.,  the  twentieth  day  of  April,  1900,  and  to  continue  for 
ten  days  from  that  date.  We  are  sending  the  same  invitation  to  all 
the  Protestant  Foreign  Missionary  Societies  of  the  world,  so  far  as 
they  are  known  to  us.  We  shall  be  pleased  at  an  early  date  to  learn 
that  you  have  accepted  this  invitation  and  will  bear  your  part  in  the 
varied  deliberations  of  that  occasion. 

The  important  matter  of  arranging  a  programme  for  the  Conference 
will  at  once  be  taken  up,  and  we  shall  be  pleased  to  receive  suggestions 
from  you  in  regard  to  the  subjects  which  should  be  discussed,  and 
upon  any  other  points  bearing  on  the  right  conduct  of  the  Conference. 

Anticipating  an  occasion  full  of  profit  and  of  the  greatest  interest 
to  all  Christian  people,  and  depending  upon  your  hearty  co-operation 
and  aid  to  this  end  we  are.  in  behalf  of  the  American  Committee, 

Faithfully  yours, 

Judson  Smith,  Chairman , 

1  Somerset  St. ,  Boston,  Mass. 
Henry  N.  Cobb,  Secretary, 

25  East  22d  St.,  New  York,  N.Y. 

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COMMITTEE. 


Rev.  Judson  Smith,  D.D.,  Chairman, 

Secretary,  American  Board  of  Commissioners  for  Foreign  Missions. 

Rev.  F.  F.  Ellinwood,  D.D., 

Secretary,  Board  of  Foreign  Missions,  Presbyterian  Church,  U.  S.  A. 

Rev.  Samuel  W.  Duncan,  D.D., 

Secretary,  American  Baptist  Missionary  Union. 

Rev.  A.  B.  Leonard,  D.D.,  Rev.  A.  J.  Palmer,  D.D., 
Secretaries,  Missionary  Society,  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

Rev.  Henry  N.  Cobb,  D.D., 

Board  of  Foreign  Missions,  Reformed  Church  in  America. 

Rev.  Alexander  Sutherland,  D.D., 

Methodist  Church  in  Canada,  Department  of  Missions. 

Hamilton  Cassels,  Esq., 

Convener  Committee,  Presbyterian  Church  of  Canada. 

Rev.  Walter  R.  Lambuth,  M.D.,  D.D., 

Secretary,  Board  of  Missions,  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  South. 

Rev.  W.  W.  Barr,  D.D., 

Secretary,  Board  of  Foreign  Missions,  United  Presbyterian  Church  of 

North  America. 

Rev.  R.  M.  Sommerville,  D.D., 

Secretary,  Board  Foreign  Missions,  Reformed  Presbyterian  Church. 


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